RTL Group Toppers Tapped for Variety Achievement in Int'l TV Honor

The award recognizes creativity, leadership and internationally recognized acumen with the global TV business and will be given to the pair at a ceremony by Variety associate publisher Donna Pennestri at the upcoming Mip market in Cannes.

RTL Group is Europe's leading entertainment network and one of the world's biggest companies in the areas of production, licensing and distribution of TV content. With 55 TV channels across Europe -- including M6 in France -- and 27 radio stations, RTL Group produces 9,200 hours of TV programming per year across 62 countries and has more than 300 programs on the air or in production worldwide.

FremantleMedia (London), FremantleMedia North America (Los Angeles) and FremantleMedia U.K. (London) are some of its highest-profile holdings.

Schaeferkordt is a 22-year veteran of RTL and was tapped co-CEO with de Posch in April 2012. Schaeferkordt received the Intl. Emmys directorate Award in November.

Schaeferkordt and de Posch are charged with leading RTL's strategy -- this includes expansion of international production and digital content.

Last summer, RTL Group invested $36 million in Broadband TV, giving it a 51% stake in the YouTube multichannel network, which has 120 million-plus subscribers and more than 1.2 billion monthly views.

Its licensing operations are keyed to build brands across multiple platforms, including consumer products, live events, gaming, mobile, online and social media

Variety vice president and executive editor Steven Gaydos said, "RTL Group is already a world-respected media powerhouse and with their current expansion plans this is a great time to honor their myriad achievements."